Today is Sunday, February 15, 2026, and as you read this, the stars are descending on the brand-new Intuit Dome in Los Angeles for the 75th NBA All-Star Game.
Tonight is historic for a different reason: the debut of the “Team USA vs. Team World” round-robin tournament. But before we see if Victor Wembanyama and Luka Dončić can dismantle the American “Stars and Stripes” squads, we have to look back. Over 75 years, most All-Star Games have been “glorified layup lines,” but five stand out as genuine cultural and competitive milestones.
Here are the 5 greatest NBA All-Star Games in history.
1. 1992: Magic Johnson’s “Final” Act (Orlando)
This wasn’t just a game; it was a global shift in perspective. Three months after retiring due to an HIV diagnosis, Magic was voted in by fans despite not playing a single minute that season.
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The Moment: The final minutes turned into a 1-on-1 tournament, with Magic taking on Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas.
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The Finish: Magic drilled a fall-away three-pointer at the buzzer to seal a 153–113 win for the West. Both teams flooded the court to hug him—a powerful image that shattered the stigma surrounding his diagnosis.
2. 2001: The “Size of the Heart” Comeback (Washington, D.C.)
If you think All-Star players don’t play defense, you haven’t watched the final 9 minutes of 2001. The West led by 21 points with 9:00 remaining, and then Allen Iverson decided he wasn’t losing in his “backyard” (he played college ball at Georgetown).
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The Surge: Iverson scored 15 of his 25 points in the 4th quarter.
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The Dagger: Stephon Marbury hit two massive threes late, and the East pulled off a stunning 111–110 comeback win. Iverson’s post-game quote became legendary: “You can’t measure the size of someone’s heart.”
3. 2020: The “Mamba” Tribute (Chicago)
Played just weeks after the passing of Kobe Bryant, the 2020 game introduced the Elam Ending—a target score format that turned an exhibition into a bloodbath.
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The Intensity: Because the target score (157) was set in honor of Kobe’s #24, the fourth quarter featured playoff-level intensity. Players were taking charges, diving for loose balls, and arguing with refs.
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The Result: Team LeBron edged out Team Giannis 157–155 in what many consider the most competitive 15 minutes of basketball in All-Star history.
4. 1988: Jordan’s Coronation (Chicago)
Before he was a six-time champion, Michael Jordan had to prove he was the king of the league. On his home court in Chicago, he put on a clinic that felt like a passing of the torch from the Bird/Magic era.
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The Statline: MJ dropped 40 points on 17-of-23 shooting.
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The context: This came just 24 hours after his legendary “free-throw line” dunk contest win over Dominique Wilkins. It was the weekend Michael Jordan officially became the face of the NBA.
5. 2003: The Double-OT Farewell (Atlanta)
This was Michael Jordan’s final All-Star appearance, and the script was almost too perfect.
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The Drama: In the first overtime, Jordan hit a vintage baseline fadeaway to give the East a 2-point lead with 4.8 seconds left. It was supposed to be the walk-off.
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The Twist: A young Jermaine O’Neal fouled Kobe Bryant on a three-pointer, Kobe hit the free throws to force a second OT, and Kevin Garnett eventually took over to win MVP. It was a 155–145 marathon that bridged the gap between the legends of the 90s and the icons of the 2000s.
Tonight: What to Expect at the Intuit Dome
The NBA is desperate to recapture the magic of that 2001 game. Tonight’s format features:
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USA Stars vs. Team World: Watch for Victor Wembanyama to try and “welcome” the younger Americans to his era.
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USA Stripes vs. The Winner: This is where the veterans like LeBron James and Kevin Durant step in.
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Luka Watch: Luka Dončić is nursing a hamstring strain but is expected to give us at least one “magic” moment before sitting out.
